Why Scotland go to Euro 2024 with genuine hopes of getting beyond group stage

QUALIFYING for back-to-back Euros is an achievement in itself and the Tartan Army are sure to make the most of it.

The 2-0 win over Spain and the 15 other goals scored en route to Germany are decent reasons to believe Steve Clarke’s team can make an impact.

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But a run of seven games without a win, including a friendly defeat by Northern Ireland in March, suggests they should travel more in hope than expectation.

But if experienced players like captain Andy Robertson and goal machine Scott McTominay are fit and in form, the knockout stage is not beyond the Scots.

Manager: Steve Clarke

Only Jock Stein, Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown have managed Scotland in more games.

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Key player: John McGinn

The Aston Villa captain has reached new levels under the coaching of Unai Emery and is crucial to a midfield that provides most of Scotland’s goals.

Likely line-up

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How they attack

We are likely to see Scotland line up in a 5-4-1 system with the Southampton striker Che Adams leading the attacking line.

While Adams will run and work hard he is more used to making runs to drag defenders out of shape.

It relies on players from the narrow three-man midfield and the attacking midfielder making runs behind him to stretch and open up the opposition.

McTominay and McGinn regularly make extremely long runs to get into the final third and they are often responsible for getting the goals.

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Scotland will typically look to build into wide areas with the full-backs and central midfielders working together.

The players on the flanks then look to get the ball into the area or into central spaces around the edge of the opposition penalty area.

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In qualifying against Norway, Norwich’s Kenny McLean arrived in the box to score.

Once again McGinn was involved and the initial cross came from McTominay on the right-side.

As Scotland will typically be passive against the ball as they sit in a deeper defensive block, they will attack through quick forward passes when they get the opportunity to win the ball back.

Striker Adams is important in terms of making runs to get on the end of these passes and to allow their team to move forward to support the attack.

The forward line will be affected by the absence of Lyndon Dykes, who was ruled out of Euro 2024 after being carried off on a stretcher in training.

Clarke has brought in 18-year-old Ben Doak to replace the injured Queens Park Rangers forward.

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How they defend

Scotland sit deep in a 5-4-1 block.

Clarke’s defensive goal is to stop the opposition from being able to play centrally in their defensive third.

They will usually work extremely hard in order to deny any spaces between the lines as they try to force the opposition wide.

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When they are defending, all of their players are behind the ball and positioned in their defensive third as they look to force the opposition wide.

The midfielders for Scotland will have a key role and they are typically very narrow in their positioning.

They will work to shift across from side to side in order to stop the opposition from being able to break the line with a pass.

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By forcing the opposition outside as they look to attack, Scotland are effectively saying that they are comfortably defending the area from crosses.

They will also, however, look to quickly shift out when the ball goes wide to press the space and deny the opposition wide players any space.

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Prediction

Scotland were drawn into a hard group with hosts Germany, disciplined Hungary and Switzerland.

Finish as runners up in Group A, and they will face the second place team in Group B, meaning it could be anyone of Spain, Italy or Croatia.

Win that last 16 game and they are presented with the possibility of a mouthwatering knockout clash against either England, Belgium or the Netherlands.

There is also the prospect of Scotland going through as one of the best third-place teams.

But that could present any number of scenarios.

The only guarantee here is that the Tartan Army would then meet a group winner in the round of 16. 

Latest odds

Scotland are 100/1 to lift the trophy come July 14.

Glam fans and Wags

The players have got some dedicated support as they make their bid to qualify from Group A.

Clarke has encouraged the players’ wives and girlfriends to accompany them on major tournaments.

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